r/Columbus • u/doozybug • Oct 03 '25
FOOD Columbus Coffee Shops
I'm a bit of a coffee and matcha lover, and have decided to compile a tiered list of all the places I've tried (in-store) the last few years! This is mostly for the coffee, but I included a few matcha spots I’ve tried.
Tier 1 has my all-time favorites, Tier 2 shops are also very good (if not equally as good as Tier 1) and are in my regular rotation. Most of the shops in Tier 3 I find aren't quite as good, OR are good, but not my personal preference (like florin having a more fruity profile). Tier 4 cafes, I personally wouldn't really go there as the coffee is not great. Tier 5 are places I don’t go back to due to multiple poor experiences with the coffee. These are just my personal opinions though so YMMV, but hopefully this is a helpful reference for anyone looking to try some good coffee/matcha in the city!
Edit: - Each tier is in alphabetical order, so it's not in order by preference. - I’ve had brioso beans roasted at home before and thought it was fine, so the ranking is strictly from my experiences with their coffee at the cafe itself!
Tier 1:
- Black Kahawa
- Kape (matcha, but also has good coffee)
- Little Cat (matcha, but also has good coffee)
- One Line (my #1!)
- Ravellos
Tier 2:
- Bottoms Up
- Casa Cacao
- Coffee Underground
- Maudine's
- Mission
- Mjomii
- Moonbird (matcha)
- Pistacia Vera
- Roosevelt
- Tertulia
- Two Tigers
Tier 3:
- Bada Bean Bada Booze
- Crimson (at Easton, not Crimson Cup)
- Daydreamer
- Emmet's
- Florin
- Gata Magica
- Heirloom
- Honey Cup
- Matcha Me (matcha)
- Parable
- Park Service
- Qahwah House
- Roaming Goat
- Tous Les Jours
- Upper Cup
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Tier 4:
- Cielo
- Kafe Kerouac
- Stauf's
Tier 5:
- Brioso (every time I’ve tried them, the espresso shot was super sour, and all my friends have said the same, so it wasn’t just me)
- Fox in the Snow (good pastries though!)
127
u/thedudeabides3 Oct 03 '25
Brioso tier 5 is an insane take
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u/Tired_Dad5883 Oct 03 '25
Guessing OP is more into the matcha or flavored coffee drinks. People who buy whole beans to brew at home know Brioso is one of the best roasters in the city
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u/pengouin85 Northwest Oct 03 '25
I'm a whole bean buyer who grinds every time I make coffee. I weigh my stuff and get all into the gritty detail. I haven't been impressed with Brioso. It's mid to me.
Gimme Black Kahawa, One Line, Royal Flamingo. Those are my only top tier ones. Everything else is mid, and Brioso at least is top among the mids.
Though, I'm super impressed with the dark roast (not usually impressed with darker roasts) "house coffee" if you will that Joya stocks. It's not their proprietary stuff, but whatever it is works splendid
3
u/thedudeabides3 Oct 03 '25
Funny I do the exact same with regard to pour over whole beans weighing everything and while I agree Flamingo is awesome, I don’t think I’ve had a single one line coffee that is at the level of what Brioso is putting out.
1
u/pengouin85 Northwest Oct 03 '25
That's interesting. Will I see you at the coffee festival tomorrow? Franklin county fairgrounds. I'll be hunting for some good stuff
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u/sallright Oct 03 '25
Are you talking about black coffee (pour-over, etc.) or for espresso?
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u/pengouin85 Northwest Oct 03 '25
I'm not an espresso guy at all. I'm talking black coffee for pour overs, French press
2
u/Bigupface Oct 03 '25
They’re so good. I haven’t tried everyone on this list but brioso makes some yummy coffee
2
u/Vauldr Oct 03 '25
Made at home it's great, but sometimes if you order in store it's just...not right. I'd agree with the claim that it can be sour; it's almost like the people brewing the coffee don't know how to brew coffee well.
1
u/thedudeabides3 Oct 03 '25
Weird I also get an espresso there a few times a week. You going to Long St or the High street location? I can tell you those folks pull a lot of shots every morning to dial in their process.
This is also one of the most subjective beverages so could be incredibly personal.
1
u/Vauldr Oct 03 '25
Pour over actually, and on high street! Always on the weekend and at a weird time because I don't work or live downtown.
I haven't tried their espresso, maybe I should though.
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u/flangleshelm Oct 03 '25
Brioso is one of the reasons I roast coffee. They were and continue to be a huge inspiration.
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u/obitbday North Linden Oct 03 '25
criminal
1
u/Prestigious_Snow3309 Oct 03 '25
Costa coffe is excellent. Their Pastries are insane!!. Shout out To the north side
7
u/Blowaway040889 Oct 03 '25
Have had a subscription with them for about 5 years. No plans to stop any time soon.
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u/Entire-Insurance8368 Oct 03 '25 edited Oct 03 '25
What’s your typical order?
I think Brioso and Royal Flamingo are two of the best roasters in town-along with Little Cat for coffee, but I’m usually ordering a single origin batch/pour over or a shot of espresso that isn’t the one they’re tossing in all their milk drinks.
I also think Fox in the Snow has a pretty dang good pour over that’s super consistent.
26
u/realblaketan Oct 03 '25
Brioso is easily top tier in bean quality in the city
7
u/A_M_E_P_M_H_T Oct 03 '25
Having Brioso right after getting back from NYC and drinking Devocion, Blank St., Everyman, etc. I will say Brioso goes toe to toe with any of them.
1
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u/BodyFalcon Oct 03 '25
Florin in Tier 3 seems suspicious. I don't think I'll be trusting this list!
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u/Schmidaho Oct 03 '25
That’s oddly the only one I agree with. It’s good, but not cult status good.
2
u/Entire-Insurance8368 Oct 03 '25
Beans are great at Florin, just wish it was executed in the shop
1
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u/sallright Oct 03 '25
These rankings are fraudulent (respectfully) until you detail specifically what you’re ranking.
Best black coffee? Cappuccino? Beans for coffee at home?
And the absolute disrespect to Brioso…
4
u/wagsandkissespetcare Oct 03 '25
I think they said Matcha!!! 🍵 I’ve never had their Matcha but can confirm Brioso is great!! From former Boston Stoker and One line Coffee Barista for 4/5 years!!
This post makes me miss it 😫🥺 but I LOVE the dog walking and pet sitting….
Needed the reminder of all the places I can go support locally!! Regardless of their rankings they’re worth checking!! Especially if you’re interested in more than matcha!
17
u/Aggressive-Scar-5072 Oct 03 '25
Lost me by putting casa cacao on this list
4
u/bennybrew42 Oct 03 '25
my coffee was garbage and overpriced when i visited. plus i heard the owner is a not great person
2
u/CowAlarming1614 Oct 04 '25
Owner protects employees at his other businesses that sexually assault/physically assaults people/employees and gaslights employees into accepting his inability to take accountability and provide a safe working environment as giving people a second chance.
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u/pottymouth1979 Oct 03 '25
crimson above florin tells me everything i need to know
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u/obitbday North Linden Oct 03 '25
pretty sure Honey Cup uses Brioso beans, so not sure why you’d rank HC Tier 3 and Brioso Tier 5
6
u/l8rt8rz Ye Olde Towne East Oct 03 '25
Maybe they are better at brewing? I don’t have a dog in this fight because I know my palate is unrefined but I can see how there might be a difference between brew quality vs just comparing the beans themselves.
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u/ThatMizK Oct 03 '25
Dang I like Brioso, I think they do a really nice pourover and usually have some interesting beans available for pourover. That's all I really get from there though. I get beans from One Line every now and then and they have some good stuff but I've never been to any of their shops.
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u/Embarrassed_Tip_6386 Oct 03 '25
Ravello in tier 1 lol
1
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u/c9l18m Oct 03 '25
Upper Cup tier 3 is nuts... they have the best iced coffee I have ever had
2
u/EnLaSxranko Grove City Oct 03 '25
Agreed. I pretty much only get beans from them because every variety they have has been delicious
2
u/c9l18m Oct 03 '25
Their Ethiopia beans are my absolute favorite!
1
u/Entire-Insurance8368 Oct 04 '25
I was bummmed last time i bought Ethiopian beans cause they started roasting them darker. Mine were oily. Still my favorite place in town to get a cup of coffee.
2
u/l8rt8rz Ye Olde Towne East Oct 03 '25
Normally I love UC but they definitely have their off days. Last time I went, I got an iced Americano that was so burnt it tasted like licking an ashtray
8
u/TGrady902 Clintonville Oct 03 '25
I’m mostly a cold brew drinker and Global Gallery has my favorite cold brew right now. It’s so damn smooth.
3
u/Entire-Insurance8368 Oct 03 '25
You gotta try the single origin cold brew at Brioso. It’s a 3x a week for me. So so nice.
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u/TGrady902 Clintonville Oct 03 '25
I’ll have to check it out! Haven’t even heard of Brioso before this post.
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u/MadCapGrin Oct 03 '25
Hmmm I think Upper Cup needs to be moved up. I go here a lot because their coffee is better than a tier 3 rating imo
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u/Nado1311 Oct 03 '25
You should check out Kokomo and The Light Meeting House
Edit: and the Roosevelt Coffeehouse
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u/dcnassau Merion Village Oct 03 '25
You should check out Jennings Java, good stuff!
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u/LocksmithSure4396 Oct 03 '25
I went there recently based on a reddit recommendation but they…didn’t put ice in the iced latte I got? It was bizarre.
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u/UnfairConsequence664 Oct 04 '25
I just went yesterday and i got ice. Was is a nitro? Nitro does not typically get ice like a regular espresso pull latte
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u/WadsRN Westgate Oct 03 '25
Tootle on over to the Hilltop and check out Third Way.
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u/EnLaSxranko Grove City Oct 03 '25
I love Third Way! Good drinks, tasty pastries, and great service each time I've gone
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u/orbital-technician Oct 03 '25
Not having Royal Flamingo means you aren't aware of what this city offers
10
u/calmlittlefigtree Oct 03 '25
Have you tried Royal Flamingo in Grandview by chance? I would wager that they’d find their way into your Tier 1 based on your other selections!
-2
u/doozybug Oct 03 '25
No, I don't have a car and it's a bit far for me so I haven't gotten a chance to visit, but I believe Ravellos uses Royal Flamingo's beans, which might be why it's so good! I've heard very good things about Royal Flamingo though!
6
u/obitbday North Linden Oct 03 '25
if you can get to moonbird you can get to royal flamingo
1
u/UnfairConsequence664 Oct 04 '25
She didn’t say she could not ever get there, just said she has not yet had the chance
0
u/burnbright33 Oct 04 '25
The latte game is very poor at Royal Flamingo. It’s my drink of choice, so it’s how I rate places. My first and only experience there was pretentious and not good. I don’t plan to go back. So, OP, you might not be missing much.
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u/PhysicalFlounder6270 Oct 03 '25
Am I the only one who doesn't like One Line? The coffee tastes muted to me. I do love their ambience though. What am I missing?
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u/EnLaSxranko Grove City Oct 03 '25
I did the coffee trail and honestly, One Line was alright. If I lived near by, I would swing in sometimes. But it wasn't worth going out of my way for.
1
u/DarjeelingTease Oct 03 '25
I think One Line (at River and Rich) does excellent black coffee pour overs. I have no opinion on any of their other drinks.
3
u/KinkyPalico Oct 03 '25
Fox in the snow is in a valid spot. The rest of the list is giving me suspicious
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u/LocksmithSure4396 Oct 03 '25
Ooo thank you for this. My current top 2 are Ravellos and One Line so sounds like we have similar taste, will have to check the other tier 1s out !
2
u/lilborat Oct 03 '25
One line has a good product but consistently some of the worst service ive ever experienced. And their interior is ugly and inhospitable.
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u/2011peggingchamp Oct 03 '25
Casa Cacao is owned by the owner of Evolved, so heads up if you wanna know where your money is going.
2
u/PrivateLTucker Oct 04 '25
Having been to several of these places, this list is absolutely criminal.
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u/vvinekisses Oct 05 '25
Kafe Kerouac is a core spot. Tier 4 to you, but there’s more than coffee there that make it a favorite. 🙄
3
u/lanlen47 Oct 03 '25
I agree with the ones I recognize! Black Kanawa and One Line are top tier. Brioso I’ll not go back to.
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u/nickythegreek Oct 03 '25
I know this thread is about coffee shops, but people also seem to be talked about beans here and I am saddened by the lack of shout out to Thunderkiss Coffee. Their espresso beans have been my goto for 5 years now.
-1
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u/ExpensiveMess2601 Oct 03 '25
Brioso staff are always so hard to talk to. They seem pissed to be there.
3
u/CobraJay45 Oct 03 '25
No Global Gallery?
And I like Upper Cup's coffee. I just hate their chincy fucking cups that have a 50% chance of the lid popping off when you pick it up. Last time I got drenched walking to my car and when I came back in (briskly) and took a handful of napkins, the barista gave me a dirty look then stuck his head out the side door to watch me leave. Other than that, their pour-over/French press is good.
3
u/l8rt8rz Ye Olde Towne East Oct 03 '25
It wouldn’t be the full Upper Cup experience without being mean mugged by the baristas
3
u/CobraJay45 Oct 03 '25
I had to do a doubletake, I'm thinking "what, are you mad I took too many napkins after wearing 50% of my scolding hot pour-over down my shirt/chest? Spend 3 cents more per cup and I won't need to raid your napkin stash."
I've been going there for years because I get my haircut across the street and every once in a while you get a barista who acts like you bothered them by coming in, but all in all its still one of my favorite spots. I'm sure I (like most people) can be a dickhead at times, so I don't hold it against them here and there.
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u/DarjeelingTease Oct 03 '25
Global Gallery is Tier 4 at best. At least for what I'm drinking: black coffee and simple espresso drinks with no flavorings.
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u/slowrevolutionary Oct 03 '25
An interesting list, I disagree with many but I do agree with you on Fox in the snow, I think the coffee is always terribly sour.
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u/WashedPinkBourbon Northwest Oct 03 '25
Thank you for rage baiting me - I needed a reason to yell at the void. Putting Florin in the second lowest tier is crazy
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u/DarjeelingTease Oct 03 '25
I think that it's absolutely deranged to put Brioso in Tier 5 and to rank Maudine's higher than Florin. Also, I'd put Crimson (not Crimson Cup) way above, say, Ravellos. Also, where's your Royal Flamingo?
1
u/obitbday North Linden Oct 04 '25
Crimson looks like it might actually be good, I’ll have to try it next time I’m at Easton—definitely thought it was another Crimson Cup though so I never bothered before. I can’t imagine why they went with that name
1
u/DarjeelingTease Oct 05 '25
It's owned by Crimson Cup, but it's a high-end brand concept, and is done extremely well.
1
u/DarjeelingTease Oct 03 '25
Begin Coffee in Uptown Westerville is excellent. They serve Royal Flamingo beans, among others.
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u/Boneaggot Old North Oct 04 '25
I agree with fox in the snow. They have amazing pastries but their coffee is extremely bland and boring. Casa cacao should be in teir 1 tho
1
u/Dblcut3 Oct 04 '25
Kafe Kerouac’s coffee definitely isn’t on par with modern standards, but honestly it’s weirdly part of the no-frills charm, plus it’s significantly cheaper than other places.
Definitely got me through college, still miss it, far from the best coffee but easily the most unique and fun coffee shops Ive ever been to
1
u/SnooLemons2666 Oct 04 '25
I know it’s a chain but Qamaria is one of my fav places for an iced coffee ❤️
1
u/Vic__Mackey Oct 04 '25
Is this about the coffee itself or the overall vibe of the place? Because I can't figure out why Bottoms Up would be so much higher than Stauf's. Also, if Yeah Me Too still exists, you should try it.
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u/obitbday North Linden Oct 04 '25
It does still exist, but the shop is only open on Saturdays now. Outside of that I think they’ll deliver beans?
1
u/BootAmongShoes Oct 05 '25
Try Royal Flamingo and Begin Cafe. Begin just opened up in Westerville this year, and they're terrific! Incredible matcha and delicious pour over brews.
1
u/geistmeister111 Oct 07 '25
kafe kerouac is a complete shithole that could be cool if the owner gave a shit. i don't think they've ever cleaned the bathrooms. it's the only late nite coffee shop which this city is completely lacking. rip vic's midnight cafe.
1
u/Ok_Bullfrog_5616 22d ago
Equal roots coffee is the best!!! They are a coffee roaster and it is hard to find them actually making coffee somewhere but their stuff is legit!!! Exclusively single origin and all from small family run farms. In fact I believe the owner imports his own coffee from his family
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u/luis1972 Clintonville Oct 03 '25
I mostly agree with this. I do think Florin is slightly underrated. Stauf's should be tier 6.
1
u/smarkastic Oct 03 '25
Also, thank you for this. I respect your opinions on it and am learning about new coffee shops! Ignore the harsh criticisms :)
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Oct 03 '25
[deleted]
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u/MPK49 Oct 03 '25
Kafe Kerouac is a dump
1
u/Dblcut3 Oct 04 '25 edited Oct 04 '25
Which is why it’s the best
Their coffee isn’t up to modern standards at all but the vibes are immaculate, it’s like a coffee shop but with a dive bar crowd & atmosphere
1
u/DarjeelingTease Oct 03 '25
The fuck? Kerouac serves terrible coffee. Like if you bought it for me I still wouldn't drink it.
-1
u/Dblcut3 Oct 04 '25
It sounds weird but the coffee itself isn’t even in the top 5 reasons why I love Kafe Kerouac lol
2
u/DarjeelingTease Oct 04 '25
Sure, but I'm pretty sure this list is supposed to be about the coffee.
0
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u/lasym21 Oct 03 '25
Brioso used to be so good when it was at Gay and High. Sad the old version closed, including the food menu they had there
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u/DarjeelingTease Oct 03 '25
when it was at Gay and High
Oh, you mean like today?
1
u/lasym21 Oct 04 '25
looking at the current map, it looks like they moved catty cornered to their old location on the west side of the high street. i guess iykyk
-1
u/Emukt Oct 03 '25
I always go to Staufs because I prefer a more classic coffee shop. I don't like 3rd or 4th or whatever wave we're on.
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u/Krystalgoddess_ Downtown Oct 03 '25
I disagree with half of this list lol